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The fact that producing stuff is difficult is enough to create an opportunity. If you produce better stuff (price,quality,marketing) you get to sell more and ea

The fact that producing stuff is difficult is enough to create an opportunity. If you produce better stuff (price,quality,marketing) you get to sell more and earn more. This gives you an opportunity to invest more in to the system. So you get to be ahead of your competitors. And everybody gets to be ahead as side result with time as well, thus you need to keep investing and keep on trying. The problem is that some industries feel entitled to retire on mohito island while humanity gets to drag them along. Also most of people using and developing Linux live off it - one way or another. I'm certain that professional/user ratio is in strong favour of Linux. Idea that companies put money into R&D solely due to intellectual property, or that they only make enough to put something into R&D because of IP is wrong. Look at some of the most successful businesses in the world. Selling sugared water, selling grilled pieces of meat, selling washing machines and various appliances, selling pieces of wood that fit together,... Taking whatever IP from them wouldn't change their R&D and other forward looking spending activities much. And don't come back to me with low tech/high tech argument. High tech production is even harder, that's why those who know how to do it and keep successfully investing into getting beter, get to run the show. Those who don't know how to improve and those who want to collect tax on everybody forever should just roll over and die.

davidw 16y ago
> producing stuff is difficult is enough to create an opportunity Producing "information stuff" is difficult, but copying it is extremely easy. You can pay a team of 100 guys to work for a year creating a program, a movie, or whatever, and then have it copied around the internet in a few hours, for free. Leaving you zero income, and a large loss on your sunk costs. That's why IP exists. There is ample scope for arguing about whether the present rules and regulations are ideal (I don't think so), but the idea behind the system makes sense for many situations.
- serichsen 16y ago
  I still like the idea to be paid for producing, not for copying. The 100 guys you mentioned did it right.
- angus77 16y ago
  Not so easy in the world of drugs or other manufactured goods. You can't torrent a factory, trained labourers, a distribution system, etc. And you can't torrent the finished product, either. If IP laws disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn't be any closer to owning a Lambourghini.
  - pbhjpbhj 16y ago
    >If IP laws disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn't be any closer to owning a Lambourghini. Why do you want a Lambo? To me this seems contrary to the ideals that would support the liberation of IP. Why should we be wasting resources on such things? You'd probably be able to get any item you liked with a Lambo TM (or are we keeping some form of trademark laws? please?) and certainly be able to buy some sort of Ford/Toyota/Kia with a Lambo shell. But it will definitely be a knock-off. Lamborghinis will still be expensive not because of scarcity but because they're a huge waste of money and so in practise few people really want to spend the money on them. If you wanted a Volvo instead I think you have a chance but you'll probably find it extremely hard to get one that lasts more than a few months, is safe. It will probably be even harder to get parts that are actually worth fitting. If you wanted an iPad then I think you stand a chance and it might actually be half decent, Chinese factories are already making ripoffs of such things after all. Apple would have to own the supply chain outright otherwise the manufacturer will undercut them (sell at lower price exact same product) and Apple would be left with the R&D and design bills.
    - angus77 16y ago
      You're assuming I picked the Lambourghini for it's brand name value. I could have said "Volvo" but I didn't. Substitute "Volvo" for "Lambourghini" if you like and you'll get eh same point---a manufactured good will not become free by removing IP laws. I can download 10,000 albums this month without incurring any extra cost on top of my internet bill (which is cap-free where I live), but I can't buy a manufactured good without someone manufacturing it first. Cheap knock-offs won't happen (even in China) if nobody pays for them.

davidw 16y ago

> producing stuff is difficult is enough to create an opportunity Producing "information stuff" is difficult, but copying it is extremely easy. You can pay a team of 100 guys to work for a year creating a program, a movie, or whatever, and then have it copied around the internet in a few hours, for free. Leaving you zero income, and a large loss on your sunk costs. That's why IP exists. There is ample scope for arguing about whether the present rules and regulations are ideal (I don't think so), but the idea behind the system makes sense for many situations.

serichsen 16y ago
I still like the idea to be paid for producing, not for copying. The 100 guys you mentioned did it right.
angus77 16y ago
Not so easy in the world of drugs or other manufactured goods. You can't torrent a factory, trained labourers, a distribution system, etc. And you can't torrent the finished product, either. If IP laws disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn't be any closer to owning a Lambourghini.
- pbhjpbhj 16y ago
  >If IP laws disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn't be any closer to owning a Lambourghini. Why do you want a Lambo? To me this seems contrary to the ideals that would support the liberation of IP. Why should we be wasting resources on such things? You'd probably be able to get any item you liked with a Lambo TM (or are we keeping some form of trademark laws? please?) and certainly be able to buy some sort of Ford/Toyota/Kia with a Lambo shell. But it will definitely be a knock-off. Lamborghinis will still be expensive not because of scarcity but because they're a huge waste of money and so in practise few people really want to spend the money on them. If you wanted a Volvo instead I think you have a chance but you'll probably find it extremely hard to get one that lasts more than a few months, is safe. It will probably be even harder to get parts that are actually worth fitting. If you wanted an iPad then I think you stand a chance and it might actually be half decent, Chinese factories are already making ripoffs of such things after all. Apple would have to own the supply chain outright otherwise the manufacturer will undercut them (sell at lower price exact same product) and Apple would be left with the R&D and design bills.
  - angus77 16y ago
    You're assuming I picked the Lambourghini for it's brand name value. I could have said "Volvo" but I didn't. Substitute "Volvo" for "Lambourghini" if you like and you'll get eh same point---a manufactured good will not become free by removing IP laws. I can download 10,000 albums this month without incurring any extra cost on top of my internet bill (which is cap-free where I live), but I can't buy a manufactured good without someone manufacturing it first. Cheap knock-offs won't happen (even in China) if nobody pays for them.